Urban Infrastructure Projects Research Articles

Achieving a framework of the circular economy in urban transport infrastructure projects: a meso-scale perspective

Urban infrastructure development is one principal way people are transforming the natural world and their living conditions. It is important for humanity, but it can also cause major impacts to the environment, such as huge amounts of solid waste and CO2 emissions. Considering this, the circular economy (CE) is a promising alternative to the traditional “make, use, and dispose” linear economy model. However, as a strategy for sustainable development (SD), the CE is still in its infancy in the urban transport infrastructure sector. Therefore, this article aims to guide the implementation of CE during transport infrastructure projects. To achieve this goal, a literature review and case study were adopted as the research methods. After reviewing existing well-established CE frameworks, the iReSOLVE (implement, Regenerate, Share, Optimize, Loop, Virtualize, Exchange) framework is recognized as the most comprehensive one. Upon it, an analytical framework containing specific-related aspects of CE in urban transport infrastructure projects (which belongs to meso-scale) is proposed (coined as the 4Wh-iReSOLVE framework). The 4Wh means Who, When, Where, and What. The proposed framework offers insight into potential CE activities for transport infrastructure projects and assists in assessing the performance and impacts of CE of these projects to cover the gap of the neglected meso-scale. Ten circular viaduct project initiatives in the Netherlands are used as case analyses with the 4Wh-iReSOLVE framework. The results present the highlights of the circular viaduct initiatives in the Netherlands, with CE activities categorized into five groups (design-related strategies, general CE strategies, implementation, management, and related digital technologies and materials, as well as environmental sustainability). As verified by several experts of the projects studied, it can be concluded that the 4Wh-iReSOLVE framework is suitable for transport infrastructure project CE analyses and implementations. It can potentially be a suggested guideline in future policy documents.

Research on 3D Assisted Planning and Approval of Urban Infrastructure Projects Based on UAV Oblique Photogrammetry

Research on 3D Assisted Planning and Approval of Urban Infrastructure Projects Based on UAV Oblique Photogrammetry

Sustainability assessment of urban water public‐private partnership projects with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria

AbstractWith the acceleration of urbanization, the sustainability of urban water infrastructure projects has become pivotal to social development. This research aims to construct a comprehensive sustainability assessment model for urban water public‐private partnership (PPP) projects based on the environmental, social, and governance criteria. First, a multi‐level assessment indicator system is established considering the economic, social, ecological, and governance sustainability dimensions. Then, the extended analytic hierarchy process is utilized to determine the weights of indicators based on expert scoring. To address the ambiguity of qualitative linguistic variables, the interval‐valued intuitionistic fuzzy set method is applied to aggregate expert assessments. An empirical case study of an urban water project verifies the feasibility of the proposed approach. Results demonstrate that experts emphasize economic sustainability, while social sustainability is an overlooked dimension that requires improvement. The research contributes to the field by developing an applied, industry‐specific sustainability evaluation model for urban water PPP projects using advanced decision‐making techniques. This model provides practical tools for stakeholders to enhance the sustainable performance of urban water infrastructure projects.

Managing uncertainties in urban junction design: a case study of the FAHP method in Chettia

The essay delves into how an urban crossroads in Chettia, Algeria was reconstructed using the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) method to assess and choose the best design from multiple alternatives. The inherent uncertainties in this type of project can be effectively managed by using fuzzy algorithms, which mimic human reasoning in decision-making. A comprehensive and organised study is made possible by the methodology's foundational premise on a hierarchical problem classification into 32 criteria and sub-criteria. To establish the weightings of these criteria and lay the groundwork for comparing alternatives, the FAHP approach is employed, which is well-known in the area of multi-criteria decision-making. The feasibility and efficacy of this method are illustrated in the case study pertaining to the reconstruction of the Chettia intersection. A global performance indicator was used to rate the four solutions that the experts reviewed. When it comes to building and maintaining rural road networks, this strategy is invaluable for making educated decisions. In this case, the FAHP method provides a rigorous and methodical way to choose the optimal design. It enables the management of the uncertainties inherent in this type of urban infrastructure project while considering various complicated and sometimes contradicting aspects. Urban planners and transportation engineers may benefit much from this concept if it were applied to other comparable projects.

Barriers to Public Participation in Urban Green Infrastructure in China from Stakeholders’ and Residents’ Perspective, A Case Study in Yangzhou

Public participation has always played an important role in urban design and planning. Urban green infrastructure is a part of urban planning and design. This research uses a policy review and semi-structured interviews with residents and stakeholders. The findings suggest that the lack of public participation in urban green infrastructure projects is the result of a combination of both government and the general public. Residents have low interest in participating in urban green infrastructure due to social cultural, public competence and lack of community spirit. Stakeholders have tried to avoid public participation in projects due to limited participation methods and limited project timeline. Citizen participation can be increased through improved technical support, media advocacy and legislation and regulations.

RESEARCH OF THE NOISE LOAD OF VEHICLES

Noise can be viewed as an undesirable component of a signal that can affect the quality of perception or transmission of information in a system. In different contexts, the term «noise» may have different meanings, but a common feature is the random impulsive nature of this phenomenon. Automotive noise is sound energy generated by the movement of a vehicle and its components. The study of road traffic noise is an important area, especially in environments where noise can have a significant impact. This includes analyzing noise levels, identifying noise sources, assessing its impact on the environment, and developing strategies to reduce noise. This study analyzes the causes of automobile noise and their noise sources, and provides classification features. The research methodology included measuring the noise level at different points of the bus interior using a specialized acoustic sound level meter Testo 816. The Sound Meter program was additionally used to obtain current time values of noise level changes with graphical data interpretation. When the bus is idling, a monotonous noise load level in the range of 58-63 dB is observed in the cabin, which is typical for a running diesel engine, which is the main source of noise. The movement of the bus in urban conditions is accompanied by a change in traffic conditions, which in turn increases the maximum noise load to 73 dB. The movement of the bus in the city is accompanied by an increase in the noise load up to 74 dB and the equivalent up to 67 dB. This is due to an increase in speed, contact of tires with the asphalt road, interaction of the air environment with bus elements, the appearance of vibrations and other noises.Although the noise load in the bus interior is within the upper permissible limits, it requires the introduction of noise reduction measures, especially for long-distance buses for a comfortable ride for passengers. Therefore, it is important to take noise levels into account when designing and operating vehicles, as well as when planning urban infrastructure projects.

Assessment of Permeable Pavements for Urban Flood Mitigation and Community Resilience

Urban flooding is a significant challenge in many developing cities, adversely impacting community resilience and infrastructure stability. This study investigates the use of permeable pavements as a sustainable solution for urban flood mitigation and enhancement of community resilience. The research focuses on the engineering design and drainage efficiency of permeable pavements, evaluating their effectiveness in reducing surface runoff and preventing waterlogging. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative data from hydrological simulations and qualitative insights from stakeholder interviews. The findings reveal that permeable pavements significantly reduce surface runoff, thereby mitigating urban flooding and enhancing drainage efficiency. Additionally, the study highlights the community benefits, including improved water quality, reduced heat island effect, and enhanced aesthetic value of urban spaces. Despite the initial higher costs and maintenance requirements, the long-term benefits of permeable pavements make them a viable solution for sustainable urban development. This research provides actionable recommendations for urban planners, engineers, and policymakers to incorporate permeable pavements into urban infrastructure projects, promoting resilience and sustainability in urban communities.

Extending CityGML with public input – social ADE

PurposeThis paper aims to enrich the 3D urban models with data contributed by citizens to support data-driven decision-making in urban infrastructure projects. We introduced a new application domain extension to CityGML (social – input ADE) to enable citizens to store, classify and exchange comments generated by citizens regarding infrastructure elements. The main goal of social – input ADE is to add citizens’ feedback as semantic objects to the CityGML model.Design/methodology/approachFirstly, we identified the key functionalities of the suggested ADE and how to integrate them with existing 3D urban models. Next, we developed a high-level conceptual design outlining the main components and interactions within the social-input ADE. Then we proposed a package diagram for the social – input ADE to illustrate the organization of model elements and their dependencies. We also provide a detailed discussion of the functionality of different modules in the social-input ADE.FindingsAs a result of this research, it has seen that informative streams of information are generated via mining the stored data. The proposed ADE links the information of the built environment to the knowledge of end-users and enables an endless number of socially driven innovative solutions.Originality/valueThis work aims to provide a digital platform for aggregating, organizing and filtering the distributed end-users’ inputs and integrating them within the city’s digital twins to enhance city models. To create a data standard for integrating attributes of city physical elements and end-users’ social information and inputs in the same digital ecosystem, the open data model CityGML has been used.

Urban biodiversity and design in time of (post)pandemics: research perspectives from URBIO international network

Reflecting on the insights from research development within Urban Biodiversity and Design Network (URBIO), this paper attempts to link the consequences of current global changes (ongoing urbanization, biodiversity loss, land-use changes, globalization, etc.) to the emergence and outbreaks of the COVID-19 pandemic. It analyses the main outcomes of the URBIO webinar (December 2021) and the URBIO conference (November 2022) and the results of the questionnaire survey among the URBIO experts on the impact of COVID-19 on the biodiversity, design and society in their local contexts as well as on the ongoing and future URBIO research directions. The survey also enabled to explore and assess a wide diversity of human-nature interactions as well as the novel actions and adaptation strategies established to have positive outcomes for both humans and nature. The results revealed the following aspects associated with the COVID-19 pandemic: silence, social distancing, isolation, conflict ideologies, and declined recreational and other human activities. Experts noticed the increase of urban green space visitation and interest in nature. The majority of the experts confirmed the impact (both positive and negative) of the COVID-19 on biodiversity and environment. General positive aspects refer to the value/significance of nature and biodiversity/wildlife and especially the contact with nature (“time outdoor”, “time spent with family”, “inspiration from nature” and “enjoying nature”). The positive consequence of the COVID-19 measures was also the improvement of wildlife habitats and the increase of spontaneous flora as well as fauna species. Experts confirmed the lower/decreased level of pollution, noise, traffic, light, anthropogenic pressure/impact, number of tourists, vehicles as well as less garbage. The analysis of leading research themes among the URBIO conference participants confirmed that the biggest number of presenters and participants were on the topic of biodiversity integration in urban planning, green infrastructure, and landscape design projects. Another popular theme was ecological restoration and urban wildlife and plant biodiversity. One particular research direction that emerged recently and clearly pronounced at URBIO 2022 was urban biodiversity in times of climate change and post-pandemics.

Mosses for minimalist green roofs: A preliminary study of the effects of rooftop exposure, species selection, and lab-grown vs. wild-harvested propagule sources

Mosses are rarely explicitly included in urban green infrastructure projects in much of North America. Nevertheless, their opportunistic colonization of impervious surfaces in the absence of intervention, combined with successful tests of their suitability in other parts of the world, suggests that they may be suited to expanded use in applications such as green roofs, and beneficial to urban ecosystem services. Such inclusion requires more detailed knowledge of both general methods for incorporating mosses into green infrastructure, and species-specific knowledge on propagation methods and maximizing growth. In this report, we present a 3-year green roof trial with five types of moss replicated across both wild and lab grown inocula, on both sheltered and exposed asphalt roof surfaces in Atlantic Canada. The exposed roof surface was not conducive to bryophyte survival; repeated wind damage, combined with rapid onset of chlorosis from drought stress, resulted in a complete mortality of all species in that condition. In the sheltered habitat, all species were still present by the third year, but with much lower cover than was present post-installation. In general, wild-harvested shoots survived better than lab-cultivated ones, and those mosses transplanted from shady habitats fared better than those from sunny habitats. We conclude that surface attachment and degree of exposure are the most important factors for establishing moss growth on asphalt roofs, whereas selecting among species may be important only in the context of maximizing long-term growth under highly localized conditions, such as high litter deposition or partial vs. full shade from overhead trees.

IDENTIFICATION, ASSESSMENT, AND PROPOSAL OF MECHANICAL RISK CONTROLS IN URBAN ROAD REPAVING INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

This study aims to establish a comprehensive management of mechanical risks that may arise during the construction of infrastructure projects, specifically focusing on the process involved in urban road repaving. The case study selected is the "Repaving of General Rumiñahui Avenue between San Luis Avenue and Santa Clara Street, Quito, Ecuador". The objective is to mitigate various types of work-related accidents resulting from civil construction interventions. Mechanical risks are a significant concern in the construction industry, particularly in activities involving heavy machinery and specialized equipment. Like many other countries, Ecuador has construction-related labor regulations in place. Therefore, the main goal of this study is to identify, assess, and propose a system for controlling mechanical risks in the construction of repaving infrastructure projects to improve working conditions. The assessments of mechanical risks in urban repaving infrastructure projects will be analyzed using the "Colombian Technical Guide GTC 45" methodology. This quantitative and analytical approach applies current regulatory methods to define risk levels. The study will conclude by determining appropriate measures for labor control and the respective management of machinery and tools. These measures encompass preventive actions such as the use of personal protective equipment, appropriate signage, engineering controls, and worker training. Keywords: risk level, hazards, work accidents, sewerage, drinking water

Adsorption of particulate matter and uptake of metal and non-metal elements from PM in leaves of Pinus densiflora and Quercus acutissima: a comparative study

Trees can serve as effective biofilters of Particulate matter (PM) pollution, making them valuable for managing air pollution and promoting public health. Leaves of trees can reduce PM through absorption, adsorption, and fallout mechanisms, which are influenced by species-specific characteristics and environmental factors. Although several studies have explored the impact of various leaf characteristics on their ability to adsorb PM from field conditions, few have been conducted in controlled chambers to analyze the adsorption of PM on leaf surfaces and the uptake of metal and non-metal elements from PM on leaves. To fill these knowledge gaps, this study investigated the PM adsorption and leaf characteristics of two different tree species, Pinus densiflora (an evergreen coniferous species) and Quercus acutissima (a deciduous broad-leaved species) under controlled conditions in a PM exposure chamber with a target concentration of 300 μg m−3. The main aim of this study was to measure and compare the rate of PM component (metal and non-metal elements) uptake in two species and investigate the leaf characteristics that contribute to PM adsorption. We investigated the relationship between PM adsorption and physiolog, micro-morphology, and chemical properties of the leaf surface in two species. This study used a Pearson’s correlation analysis and a principal component analysis (PCA) to evaluate correlation between PM adsorption and leaf characteristics and uptake of metal/non-metal elements in PM on leaves. This result showed that leaf characteristics such as stomatal size, leaf roughness, and wax content played a crucial role in PM10 adsorption, while physiological factors like transpiration and leaf boundary layer conductance were identified as important determinants of PM2.5 adsorption on plant leaves. It also observed significant variations in the uptake of aluminum, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and sulfur. This study not only advances our understanding of the mechanisms behind PM adsorption by tree leaves but also underscores the importance of selecting appropriate tree species based on their leaf characteristics for urban forestry and green infrastructure projects. The ability to strategically use tree species for PM pollution mitigation highlights a practical approach to enhancing environmental sustainability and public health.

Research on 3D Visualization of Real Scene in Subway Engineering Based on 3D Model

As an urban infrastructure project, subway engineering exhibits the characteristics of large scale, trans-regional presence, and complex environmental conditions. The three-dimensional (3D) real scene of subway engineering aims to visually present the project features by creating a virtual environment in the 3D form by integrating numerous geographical scenes and entities. However, existing methods of geometric data integration and model visualization are insufficient for handling the diverse and heterogeneous data types encountered in this process. To address these challenges, this study proposes a framework for real-scene 3D visualization management in subway engineering, establishing a technical process of multi-source data integration for organizing 3D models within the scene, and developing a visualization display strategy that incorporates octree and level of detail principles for multi-scale hierarchical dynamic loading of 3D Scene. To validate the proposed method, a prototype system is developed with Geographic Information System (GIS) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology and applied to an actual subway project. The results demonstrate that this method ensures effective integration and management of data, enabling the display of real scenes in an integrated 3D model in a web environment.

A Critical Review of the Proposed Hyperloop (Ultra-High-Speed Rail) Project between Mumbai and Pune and Its Broader Implications for Sustainable Mobility in Indian Cities

This review paper examines the appropriateness of a hyperloop line between Mumbai and Pune in India, examining, in particular, its potential economic implications and impact on people. This assessment builds on an earlier in-depth examination by the authors of the key urban and transport planning, technical, environmental, economic and human factors surrounding the hyperloop technology. The current detailed analysis of hyperloop’s expected implications in the Mumbai to Pune corridor is based upon use of a wide variety of existing indicative data from many sources, which are sufficient to provide a very broad “first-step” reality testing of hyperloop’s suitability to India. It could be argued that this is precisely the kind of analysis that should have been conducted, or at least made public, prior to committing to hyperloop in India. The paper highlights many negatives concerning hyperloop’s construction and operation, including a very high capital cost compared to other needed urban transport infrastructure projects in India, a potential lack of patronage due to a range of factors and its potentially exclusive upper income patronage cohort. It is concluded that rather than making a costly mistake, India should address current urban mobility challenges and needs such as bus rapid transit (BRT) and metros in its innumerable cities, whose construction costs are vastly lower than the expected cost of a single hyperloop line. Technology, such as the hyperloop, would need time to mature and gain operational experience. Should any corridor be found suitable, there would still need to be a thorough, detailed benefit–cost analysis together with a dedicated examination of the technology’s broader urban planning implications and less tangible factors. Setting aside the ultimate worthiness of hyperloops, India would need to at least achieve certain preconditions before proposing or pursuing such systems in the country.

Urban Transformations in Piraeus. Towards a Global City?

The paper explores the urban, social and economic geography of the city of Piraeus and its metropolitan urban area during the recent years. The city is characterized by urban shrinkage, deindustrialization and declining urban conditions. Meanwhile, the port economy is increasing and urban infrastructure and significant real-estate projects lay on the city. The current situation seems to be out of the control of the city. The acceleration of the growth of the port is not reflected in the surrounding neighborhoods. The risk of a new type of spatial polarization at the urban level is visible.

Sustainable Operations: A Systematic Operational Performance Evaluation Framework for Public–Private Partnership Transportation Infrastructure Projects

With the application of public–private partnership (PPP) model in urban transportation infrastructure projects, various participants have put forward multi-dimensional demands to the operation and maintenance of infrastructures. This study aims to establish a systematic operational performance evaluation framework for PPP transportation infrastructure projects. Based on a literature review, the balanced scorecard was improved, and a conceptual model of multidimensional performance assessment was constructed. The structure of the qualitative performance assessment system was quantified and analyzed by combining structural equation modeling with questionnaires to obtain causal relationships among the indicators. Subsequently, a system dynamics model was constructed to assess the performance dynamically, and a validation analysis was conducted. It finds that maintaining a low level of operational quality over an extended period can significantly reduce stakeholder satisfaction, consequently exacerbating the decline in project performance. In contrast, an improvement in the level of informatization is found to positively contribute to enhancing operational quality and facilitating the long-term sustainability of project operations. It innovatively integrates four dimensions of financial, multi-stakeholder satisfaction, operation and maintenance quality, and sustainability performance to enrich the theoretical system of PPP transportation infrastructure performance assessment. At the same time, it analyzes the influence mechanism among the indicators and its long-term dynamic performance, which provides an effective decision-making tool for operational performance management.

Analysis of urban slum infrastructure projects financing in Ghana: A closer look at traditional and innovative financing mechanisms

Rapid urbanisation in developing countries has engendered unregulated slum development to provide residences for economic migrants who travel to cities to pursue hopes of a secure future. The development of new financial approaches could play a critical role in unravelling the issues associated with slum development, particularly in emerging economies such as Ghana. Hence, this study investigates slum emergence in Ghana and assesses traditional and innovative financing mechanisms to drive the country’s re-development. Specifically, the study assessed critical indicators of city-urban slums, established critical city-urban slums infrastructure requirements, and examined the traditional and innovative tools of financing city-urban slums to develop more socially equitable and inclusive infrastructure. This research adopted a quantitative research strategy couched within a positivist paradigm and deductive reasoning. Surveys were used to solicit responses from selected stakeholders using purposive sampling. Data was analysed using mean score ranking, one sample t-test and relative importance index (RII). Emergent findings revealed that ‘housing quality’ was the most critical measure of city-urban slum conditions, followed by ‘access to improved sanitation’. Additionally, the findings also asserted ‘virtuous sanitation’ was the most important infrastructure requirement, followed by ‘appropriate disposal of waste facilities’. Cumulatively, the findings suggest that the most prevalent and effective traditional financing tool was to incorporate a slums infrastructure development fund and use taxes and empower urban local bodies (ULB) with increased municipal budgets. Finally, in relation to innovative forms for financing, public–private partnership (PPP) was found to be most effective, followed by municipal bond. In conclusion, the study recommends the participation of industry professionals and governing agencies in the pursuance of these financing options to drive the re-development of slums to meet the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) of ensuring sustainable cities by 2030.

The Nature Smart Cities business model: A rapid decision-support and scenario analysis tool to reveal the multi-benefits of green infrastructure investments

Incorporating natural spaces within urban areas has been shown to have multiple benefits. However, despite greening and adaptation strategies at different levels of government, progress remains slow with a lack of easy to use and comprehensive tools identified as key to overcoming this. This paper presents a co-designed tool with academic and local authority partners to demonstrate the ecosystem service benefits of small-scale urban green infrastructure projects. Through the tool, users can readily assess the impact of green infrastructure investments on the delivery of a selection of ecosystem services in the early stages of a project. Furthermore, the tool provides a standardised assessment of cultural ecosystem services’ contributions, as well as offering a method to score spatial designs on the impact on habitat for biodiversity. Use of the tool is demonstrated using a pilot study in Kapelle, the Netherlands. The results set out an overview of the impacts of the spatial design on estimated ecosystem service delivery. They also show the tool’s potential to add value in early project stages and as a planning and design tool, helping to maximise the benefits that can be achieved through green infrastructure design. Complementing these arguments with ball-park estimations on green infrastructure costs, the Nature Smart Cities Business Model aims to offer public sector officers the means to create a business case for green infrastructure measures, facilitating the translation from strategies to actual plans, thus benefitting green infrastructure implementation in the public realm.

Circular Economy 4.0 Evaluation Model for Urban Road Infrastructure Projects, CIROAD

This paper provides a multicriteria evaluation model, based on the AHP methodology for the evaluation of the Circular Economy 4.0’s, which develops the metric called “Circularity indicator for urban road projects (CIROAD)”. The main contribution of this work is to provide a measurement scale specifically designed for urban road infrastructure projects. It is a useful tool to assess the degree of implementation of the principles of the Circular Economy (CE) and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (I4.0) in an integrated manner in these types of projects, generating valuable information for all stakeholders and contributing to the objective of accelerating the transition towards a Circular Economy 4.0 model in the construction industry. The model is defined with twenty-five sub-criteria and seven general criteria, which are: (1) Circular Materials; (2) Circular Design Approaches; (3) Circular Construction Approaches; (4) Circular Operation Approaches; (5) Approaches to Deconstruction and Resource Recovery; (6) Social Value Creation; and (7) Economic Performance. The developed CIROAD model was applied to three projects in the urban transport area of the Chilean Ministry of Housing and Urbanism (MINVU/SERVIU) in the Santiago Metropolitan Region (RM). In these three projects, low performance was observed in terms of CIROAD scores (between 21% and 28% of a maximum of 100%); that is, there is a significant opportunity for improvement by incorporating more circular practices in the development of projects by the studied organization. To accelerate the transition to a circular economy model in the development of its projects, it is proposed that the organization prioritize improving the following circular practices (in order of importance): (1) the design of pavements with environmental criteria; (2) preserving value; (3) conducting cost–benefit analysis (CBA) of waste management; (4) environmental declaration of materials (EPD); (5) the used of recycled materials; and (6) BIM-based design. Finally, the suggestion for the organization in charge of these projects is to use the developed CIROAD model as a tool to support decision making regarding the prioritization of its project portfolio. That is, the organization should use CIROAD to generate a ranking score for each project and allocate resources for investment in the initiatives that show the best circularity performances, as estimated by CIROAD.

Ability or morality? Exploring the multiple dimensions of social trust on public acceptance of urban transport infrastructure projects

PurposeThe public's trust in the authorities has a great impact on people's perception and cognition on development of different types of urban transport infrastructure projects (UTIPs). Given the importance of public acceptance for the efficient construction and operation of UTIPs, this study aims at investigating the personal and environmental factors that influence public acceptance behavior from the perspective of stakeholder management.Design/methodology/approachBased on social cognitive theory (SCT), this study explores the multiple dimensions of social trust on public acceptance in the development of UTIPs by a comparative case study. Two types of UTIPs, a metro railway and a bridge in the Wuhan City, China, were selected as cases, with a questionnaire distributed among the public to collect their sense of trust towards the development of these projects. The data were analyzed through structural equation modeling (SEM).FindingsThis study reveals that social trust positively influences public acceptance, directly or indirectly through perceived benefit and -risks and self-efficacy. However, the emphasis on social trust about competence and integrity of the authorities varies with the types of projects. Self-efficacy worked as the “mirror of trust” reflecting people's attitude towards social trust in the authorities on their ability and morality.Originality/valueThe value of the paper lies in discussing social trust from multiple dimensions in the field of urban infrastructures, which provides new insights into specific mechanisms for shaping public acceptance in project management towards the development of UTIPs.